You get the picture.
It's not that Jim O'Brien is some sort of coaching mad scientist, constantly tinkering with combinations just because. It's that the Pacers have been dealing with a seemingly never-ending stream of injuries to key personnel for three seasons, a trend all involve would dearly love to reverse.
Among the many things O'Brien craves for the Pacers this season is long-sought continuity, to establish a starting lineup, stick with it and build the on-court chemistry necessary to thrive. Until tonight, he'd had just that, starting the same group in the first eight games.
But Darren Collison sprained his right ankle in practice Thursday and will miss tonight's game against Atlanta. So will reserve forward Tyler Hansbrough, who sprained his left ankle Saturday in Cleveland. On the bright side, Jeff Foster will be available after missing the past two weeks with his ankle sprain.
While Collison's injury comes at a position where the Pacers are well-stocked, Hansbrough's creates something of a jam.
Veteran T.J. Ford can be easily plugged into the starting lineup at the point. He started 81 games over the previous two seasons with the Pacers before being moved to the second unit when Collison was acquired. Behind him will be second-year prospect A.J. Price, who looked so promising as a rookie but has been inactive in every previous game because of the depth at the point.
"It's a role that I've played before," said Ford. "I just haven't played it for a full year. I understand what it takes, I understand my position and I understand the things I have to do when I'm on the court. I just try to do my best and bring something to the team and change the game and change the flow. I think so far I've been doing a good job."
With Hansbrough out and Solomon Jones struggling (six rebounds in 82 minutes) as Roy Hibbert's backup at center, the Pacers are perilously thin up front. James Posey, a wing most of his career, becomes the first backup at power forward.
Foster, who hasn't played since being sidelined with a back injury last December that required surgery, will be in uniform but is still working to regain his basketball conditioning and timing.
It is the first time this season such a major shuffle has had to occur, and promises to be short-term.
